Family Connections Inc. Adoption Agency

Meet us Monday Lisa Maynard, LMSW, ACSW, TC-TSY-F Lisa is an Implementation Specialist with C.A.S.E. for the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Traini...ng Initiative (NTI) implementing web-based training for child welfare and mental health professionals across the U.S. She is a Licensed Social Worker with expertise in trauma, attachment, and adoption and maintains a private therapy practice in Upstate New York, integrating yoga philosophy, meditation and mindfulness in her work with clients, guiding them to explore life challenges in a safe, supportive environment. Read Lisa's recent article as she shares tips on on the C.A.S.E. blog: https://adoptionsupport.org//surviving-parenting-in-the-t/

The office is on limited capacity today. We received about 12 inches of snow and the roads are not in great shape. Please feel free to reach out by email

Some helpful thoughts

A note to families who are traveling home to the US please be aware that you need a covid test before you be able to board the plan to return back to the United States. Here is a release with some more information. We wanted to bring the following announcement to your attention as it impacts families traveling for purposes of international adoption.... https://www.cdc.gov//s0112-negative-covid-19-air-passenger Please especially note the following: Before departure to the United States, a required test, combined with the CDC recommendations to get tested again 3-5 days after arrival and stay home for 7 days post-travel, will help slow the spread of COVID-19 within US communities from travel-related infections. Pre-departure testing with results known and acted upon before travel begins will help identify infected travelers before they board airplanes. Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.

NCFA (National Council For Adoption) is working with a larger consortium of organizations on a federally-funded curriculum for foster/adoptive parents. As part of that curriculum, we are creating brief online trainings Right-Time Trainings for families to access at any time that works for them. This email is being sent to recruit post adoptive families who have adopted via intercountry and private domestic adoption to give us feedback on how we can improve these trainings... participating families will receive $50 gift cards. Only the first 35 families for intercountry adoption and the first 35 for private domestic adoption will be able to proceed. Benefits to Adoptive Parents: Access to all right-time training which they can take at their leisure. Electronic $50 Amazon gift card once the review is completed. Ability to provide feedback and make the themes better suited for adoptive parents across the country. What Adoptive Parents must Complete to Receive the Gift Card: Sign an electronic consent form. Complete the demographic information part of the initial portal registration. Complete both of the right-time themes: Type of Adoption Themes to Review Families who have adopted via the intercountry process Life Story: Birth and Adoption Story Intercountry Adoption Medical Considerations Families who have adopted via private domestic process Life Story: Birth and Adoption Story Common Feelings Associated with Being Adopted Interested post-adoptive parents can register by emailing Carey Tompkins ([email protected]). A flyer is attached that can be shared with your families.

https://adoptioncouncil.org//a-guide-to-adoption-subsidi/

"I'm proud of the work that NCFA does to further research. I'm proud of our work advocating for better legislation on behalf of birth families and adoptive fami...lies. I'm proud of NCFA's advocacy for families like mine." Hear more from Ryan Hanlon in this quick video for all our followers and supporters! Supporting NCFA is easy this Giving Tuesday. Just visit adoptioncouncil.org/donate to get started.

NCFA is working with a group of organizations on a federally-funded curriculum for foster/adoptive parents. As part of that curriculum, we are creating brief online trainings Right-Time Trainings for families to access at any time that works for them. This email is being sent to recruit post adoptive families who have adopted via intercountry and private domestic adoption to give us feedback on how we can improve these trainings participating families will receive $50 g...ift cards. Only the first 35 families for intercountry adoption and the first 35 for private domestic adoption will be able to proceed. Benefits to Adoptive Parents: Access to all right-time training which they can take at their leisure. Electronic $50 Amazon gift card once the review is completed. Ability to provide feedback and make the themes better suited for adoptive parents across the country. What Adoptive Parents must Complete to Receive the Gift Card: Sign an electronic consent form. Complete the demographic information part of the initial portal registration. Complete both of the right-time themes: Type of Adoption Themes to Review Families who have adopted via the intercountry process Life Story: Birth and Adoption Story Intercountry Adoption Medical Considerations Families who have adopted via private domestic process Life Story: Birth and Adoption Story Common Feelings Associated with Being Adopted Interested post-adoptive parents can register by emailing Carey Tompkins ([email protected]); please let Carey know if your adoption was domestic or intercountry. A flyer is attached that can be shared with your families.

Closing out this final day of #nationaladoptionmonth with gratitude and humble excitement for what the next 40 years will bring as NCFA continues to lead the wa...y in adoption awareness, advocacy, education, and research so that every child, everywhere, can thrive in a nurturing, permanent family. See and hear more at the brand new adoptioncouncil.org! #ncfa40 See more

National Adoption Month 2020 has begun and we are excited to share content throughout the month that reflects the diversity of perspectives and experiences with...in the adoption community. We’re kicking it off with the November issue of the #AdoptionAdvocate from licensed professional clinical counselor and adopted individual, Cam Lee Small of Therapy Redeemed. Adopted individuals navigate adoption as a lifelong experience, and the teenage years can be a particularly stressful season as they begin to process their life’s story through more mature eyes. Cam explores common struggles in identity formation during teenage years, offering guidance for adoptive parents to patiently meet teens where they are in their journey, using affirming, strengths-based language, and supporting them as they process their identity. Read it here: https://www.adoptioncouncil.org///adoption-advocate-no-149

Update for Bulgaria from the Embassy: Greetings from Sofia, As you may or may not know the number of COVID-19 infections in Bulgaria has risen substantially over the past month. Hospitals are reporting they are at or above capacity. The Bulgarian government has recently added new restrictions and is undoubtedly considering whether to enact more substantial restrictions in the coming weeks. It is important that all American adoptive families hoping to complete the adoption ...process in Bulgaria are fully aware of the situation here. While currently you can complete the process in full in a matter of days, this may change with very little notice. The various institutions involved in the adoption process may have to restrict or suspend their services based on the circumstances here in Bulgaria. If you travel to Bulgaria you should be aware that these changes are a possibility. These changes could result in delays in the process that may last days or even weeks. We want to make sure all American families can make informed decisions about whether traveling to Bulgaria at this time is the right choice. One of the Department of State’s highest priorities is intercountry adoption. Intercountry adoption services are considered mission critical to the Department and to our Embassy. We will do everything in our power to continue to provide intercountry adoption services in the future. However, if the situation within Bulgaria worsens to a point where the health of our embassy employees and our customers is at risk, we may be forced to suspend these services including the IH-3 visa interview. While we don’t anticipate this happening, it is a possibility. If there are any changes in our ability to provide services, we will immediately inform the Bulgarian Adoption Service Providers (ASPs) who will then ensure that all American adoptive families are informed of these changes. Due to reduced staffing in the consular section of the embassy we ask that you contact your American and/or Bulgarian ASP first with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the current situation in Bulgaria and the adoption process. We have an excellent working relationship with the ASPs and they almost always have the answers to your questions. If they don’t have an answer, they will contact us, and we will assist. If you feel the need to speak with us directly you may email us at [email protected]. We hope this information is useful to you. Stay healthy everyone and we hope to see your family in person for your interview soon! Sincerely, Immigrant Visa Unit U.S. Embassy Sofia

Happy World Adoption Day from the NCFA Staff and Intern team! Started by the founder of AdoptTogether, today is a day to lift up all voices in the adoption comm...unity, to share your story, to reflect on your adoption journey and to connect with those touched by adoption. Share your smile and support for adoption in the comments below or tag us and AdoptTogether in your post Want to learn more about World Adoption Day? Check out the link in the comments. #nationaladoptionmonth #WorldAdoptionDay

Great conversation if you and your family are interested.

So much good stuff in this article.

Families adopting from Ukraine: I just heard from the US Embassy in Ukraine that the embassy confirmed Ukraine’s Border Control Department today confirmed plans to allow adoptive parents to enter Ukraine provided the adoptive parents have a letter from a relevant Ukrainian authority (in the case of adoptive parents, it would be a letter from a court or an office within the Ministry of Social Policy) that is addressed to the head of the State Border Guard Service and confirms their purpose of travel to Ukraine. Please note that adoptive parents must still adhere to Ukraine’s entry requirements related to COVID-19 that are already in place. We recommend having such a letter both in Ukrainian and English (an unofficial English translation may be useful for the airlines).

Good information

We are happy to share that 3 families received their SDA appointment invitations in Ukraine today. Such and long wait but we are happy things are moving.

https://visitukraine.today/

The Ukrainian government has lifted the entry ban for foreigners. U.S. citizens will be allowed to enter Ukraine if they can demonstrate that they have medical insurance covering all expenses related to COVID-19 treatment while on the territory of Ukraine. (NEW) The policy must include reimbursement of expenses related to the treatment of COVID-19 and be valid for the duration of the visit to Ukraine. It must be issued by an insurance company registered in Ukraine, a foreig...n insurance company with a representative office in Ukraine, or a foreign insurance company with a contractual relationship with a partner insurance company on the territory of Ukraine. U.S. citizens entering Ukraine will be required to enter into self-quarantine as long as the Ministry of Health considers the United States a country with high incidence of COVID-19. The Ministry will review the list of countries with high incidence every three days and publish any updates on their website. Accordingly, U.S. citizens traveling to Ukraine should check the latest determination prior to travel and be prepared to self-isolate if advised to do so upon arrival. (NEW) Currently, all U.S. citizens must self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. When they enter Ukraine, they must have a mobile phone that will work on arrival and download a smartphone application Diy Vdoma, through which the Ukrainian authorities will track whether they are complying with the quarantine. The Ukrainian government has stated that foreigners entering the country may also choose to take a COVID-19 test after they arrive in Ukraine, and if the result is negative, they would not be required to continue to self-isolate. Details on where the test may be taken and where the results must be submitted have not yet been published. Additional Actions to Take: Monitor the Ukrainian Health Ministry webpage for updates to the list of countries with high incidence of COVID-19 (click on the АКТУАЛЬНI ДАНI ПО COVID-19 banner to view the list). Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information. For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations. Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information. Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Ukraine. Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States For Assistance: U.S. Embassy Kyiv, Ukraine Tel (380-44) 521 5566 After hours (380-44) 521 5000 [email protected] https://ua.usembassy.gov State Department Consular Affairs 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 Ukraine Country Information Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Ukraine families, the US Embassy in Kyiv has an excellent website with the required documents for your I600 petition. This is a great website to bookmark as there is a checklist of documents with the links to those documents in the checklist. https://ua.usembassy.gov/u-s-citize/child-family-matters//

Families who might be looking at traveling as part of their adoption process please be aware that many airlines are requesting proof that you will be granted entry into the destination country or if having a layover proof that you can enter that layover country. It may take some time to get those approvals from consulates or embassies so plan accordingly. Please check with your airline so you don't have delays or cancellations.

AmazonSmile customers can now support Family Connection in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones, hooray! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations. 1. Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device 2. Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings' 3. Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process... If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app.